Here are five takeaways from the Siena game (No. 10/12 Albany is coming to the Carrier Dome on Sunday for a much truer test).

The expectations are on: While most of the Syracuse players avoided adding pressure and declined to name specific goals for the upcoming season, goalkeeper Dom Lamolinara called it a "national championship or bust season." It's dangerous to pin those expectations on any program, but the Orange may be coming close. With top two rankings from the coaches and media and an initial display of deep talent (12 players scored goals against Siena), the Orange may again be approaching the point where Final Four appearances are the expectation.

Daddio's effort encouraging: Based on how last year ended, the aspect of the game that seems most likely to impede Syracuse's Final Four hopes is its faceoff performance. In that respect, the opener was a significant success. Chris Daddio faced an opponent with above-average success on faceoffs and won 10 of 17. His opponent, Casey Dowd, didn't face top competition but finished 23rd in the NCAA in percentage last year, winning 54.5 percent. That doesn't prove Daddio can hold his own against elite competition but it's a significant step.

"This offseason, how the way last season ended, hit me harder than it ever has," Daddio said. "I wish it didn't hit me as late as it did but that's the way it works sometimes. ... It's a good start, not good enough I don't think, but it was good. Let's keep working from there."

Lamolinara will start, Wardwell could keep seeing time: Head coach John Desko was non-committal when asked if the goalkeeper switch at halftime would have continued in a more competitive game or what his plans are for Albany on Sunday. The Orange, as it did for its preseason games, alternated halves with Dom Lamolinara and Bobby Wardwell. Lamolinara started slow but rebounded to reach a 60 percent save percentage (6 of 10). Syracuse had the game won by halftime but Wardwell showed quick hands and continued to play well in the second half, stopping five of the seven shots he faced.

"Both goalies have been playing well," Desko said. "We're going to evaluate it and talk about it. In a big game if Dom is playing great it's hard to switch goalies. It's hard for me to say that right now. We're still watching the situation."

Jordan Evans scores his first: Evans is still working through a rolled ankle but played enough to score his first goal, a laser shot underneath the cross bar. The Carrier Dome public address announcer played the Superman theme for the country's No. 1 recruit after the ball hit the net. Desko said the Orange limited Evans' exposure against Siena due to the injury but expect him to be close to full-strength against Albany. True freshmen Nick Weston and Dylan Maltz also recorded their first career points, while Scott Firman saw some action.

"He hasn't been practicing lately with an injury," Desko said of Evans. "Yesterday he felt about 90 or 95 percent yesterday, woke up today and felt 100 percent. He ran well. It was good to get him out there. Didn't want to do too much with him because we wanted him to stay healthy. With a full week before Albany, I'm sure he'll be 100 percent before mid-week."

Staats could be X-factor: Syracuse continued shifting Randy Staats between midfield and attack, and he delivered a beautiful one-on-one move to score the first official goal of his career, dodging a defender and completing the play. He finished with a goal and two assists but also turned the ball over twice and shot a low percentage (1 of 5). The Orange's offensive sets were enormously effective against Siena, but the question remains what will happen if the team needs a go-to dodger when things break down. Staats showed he's willing to be the go-to guy.

"He's really picked up the offense surprisingly well given the short time he's been here," Desko said. "As we go along he's only going to understand the offense better. It's pretty remarkable how he's picked things up. It's like he's been a part of the team for a year or two."